stem - creating effective application materials for jobs

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University of Pennsylvania Career Services

CREATING EFFECTIVE APPLICATION MATERIALS FOR JOBS AT DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS – STEM

Dr. Joseph Barber

Senior Associate Director

Career Services

[email protected]

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What we’re going to cover• Introduction to written materials for the job search

• C.V. development

• Cover letter

• Additional application materials

• Reading job announcements effectively

• Resources

• Questions

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PDF of PPT will be available after the workshop


Written materials for the job search• C.V.

• Statement of teaching philosophy

• Research statement

• “Evidence of excellence in teaching”

• Website

• Writing sample

• Teaching portfolio

• Diversity statements

• Cover letters

• Statement of faith

• References

• And more…

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Univeristy of Pennsylvania

Do not copy or distribute without permission.

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Written materials for the job search• C.V.

Lists academic achievements, prioritizes research or teaching based on job description/career goals

• Research statementProvides a narrative of what big questions you have

asked, how you have gained answers, why this is important to your field, and most importantly, where you will go next

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Written materials for the job search• Statement of teaching philosophy

Narrative of your teaching goals with examples that demonstrate

• “Evidence of excellence in teaching” Some flexibility in terms of what to provide

• Teaching portfolio Can include syllabi, course evaluations, description of teaching awards

• References Specific evidence of your academic abilities that should echo your

statements and examples

• Cover letters Highlighting the key points of all your other materials (not just

repeating the information), prioritizing the examples given based on who will be reading the letter. Can take place of both research statement and teaching philosophy if these are not asked for

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Key points for all documents• All materials should look like they are part of a cohesive

packet of information that tell an effective story about youFormatted in the same way

Not saying exactly the same thing, but expanding on information mentioned in the other documents

Each as separate PDFs named appropriately (unless the job announcement requests otherwise)

AND…, written for a specific audience with regards to institution and students (research, teaching, service/mission driven, undergrad, graduate, pre-professional, etc.)

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C.V. (Curriculum vitae)• Purpose of a CV is get you an interview

• Complete listing of your academic credentials andaccomplishmentsAcademic jobs, postdocs

Funding (grants or fellowships)

• CV’s will vary from discipline to disciplineMake use of younger faculty in your department to see if you

can look at versions of their CV they used for applications

• CV organization may vary depending on where/what it isbeing used for It is possible to tailor the CV for each application

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www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/writtenmaterials



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CV CategoriesStandard

• Name and contactinformation

• Education

• Honors and Fellowships

• Teaching/ResearchExperience

• Publications

• Presentations

• Professional Memberships

• References

Possible additional categories

• Grants

• Languages

• Technical Skills

• University/Professional Service

• Research/Teaching Interests

• Professional Experience

• Patents

• Certifications/ProfessionalLicensure

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Prioritizing your CV sections• The order of sections can vary depending on what you

want to prioritizeThere is no required order

Check to see if there are field or discipline specific templates you should be following

Research experience vs teaching experience are the two main sections that can be switched depending on the job

• Schedule an appointment with a Career Services advisor if you are uncertain

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Some formatting suggestions• Keep format simple and be consistent in the way you use

formatting

Balance print and white space

• Your name should be on each page of your C.V.

• Don’t list dates on the left side – they are often the least important piece of information

• Use formatting techniques such as indenting, uppercase, bold and italics, consistently

Bolding highlights key information (degree, institution, subject, name)

Italics often makes text harder to read

• Avoid font sizes under 11 point

• Reverse chronological order throughout

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TOO MUCH TEXT



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Name and contact informationDon’t make “Curriculum Vitae” the most prominent part

of your first page.

You can list either your department address or your personal address (or both)

Give one email address to avoid confusion

Give the phone number which you would like the institution to contact you – and will expect to be contacted

List a professional website if appropriate

Don’t include personal information (unlike int’l CVs)

Jane Doe

3718 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104

215-898-7530; [email protected]

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Education• Most Ph.D. candidates will have this as their first category

Make it clear when your degree is expected

• Some postdocs might want to have “Current Position” as a first category, then list the education section

• Give some detail such as field of concentration, title of dissertation, name of advisorYou can include a very succinct summary of your research

that focuses on questions asked, methods used, findings, and relevance

Everyone will read your CV…

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EDUCATIONPh.D. Electrical and Systems Engineering, August 2014University of PennsylvaniaAdvisor: Dr. X NameDissertation Title: Title of dissertation

B.Sc., in Honors, Summa cum Laude, Computer Engineering, May 2005Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityAdvisor: Dr. Y NameThesis: Thesis titleSelected Graduate Coursework:Optimal Design of Wireless SystemsNonlinear and Adaptive Control Random Processes in EngineeringIntelligent and Animated Software Agents

CURRENT RESEARCH EXPERIENCEPostdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Dr. Name July 2013-presentDepartment of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, Brief description of research

EDUCATION



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Honors and Awards• You can make this a separate category, or include these

under the relevant degree

• Put recognizable, significant awardsYou might use the heading “Selected Honors & Awards” if

you have quite a few

• If you are a international student, you may need to explain some of the honorsWere they given for academic excellence?

Were they based on something you applied for?

Were they competitive?

Can you find a way to describe the award that will help it to make sense to anyone who reads this section?

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AWARDSStudent Fellow Award, Biomedical Engineering Society January 2013DSM Polymer Technology Award, DSM and American Chemical Society August 2011Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Award, American Chemical Society 2010Graduate Student Research Gold Award, Materials Research Society 2009Molecular Biophysics Training Grant, National Institute of Health (NIH) 2007 – 2009Biomolecular GAANN Fellowship, US Dept. of Education 2007 – 2010


Research interests• A brief answer to the questions, “what have you been

doing” and “what’s next?”Must be credible; you should be able to elaborate

• Use keywords associated with your specific research interests and expertise Job description may provide clues on relevant terms

Search committees are looking for an indication of an independent, strong research program

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Research InterestsMy research considers the role of a neuromodulator, dopamine, in guiding behaviors driven by a DS. For decades, dopamine was equated with reward or pleasure because it is released after exposure to a wide variety of rewarding events, including sexual partners, food, and drugs of abuse. More recently, several researchers raised the hypothesis that dopamine is required to motivate a behavioral response to a salient environmental cue. I recognized that my behavioral task could directly test this "motivational salience" hypothesis. If dopamine is truly required for a cue to trigger a behavioral response, not only should dopamine blockers disrupt the ability of animals to respond to the DS, dopamine disruption should abolish the activity of neurons that are excited by a DS.

RESEARCH INTERESTSHealth communications campaigns, health disparities, mass communication, media effects, HIV risk reduction


Experience (research and teaching)• Depending on the type of job, and the degree of

experience you have, you should consider whether to split this into 2 sections:

• Research experience: Projects/experiments you have worked on

Collaborations you have been involved with

Findings and publications associated with your work

• Teaching experience:Classes you have taught (include # and type of students),

Labs you have been involved with

Mentoring and other formal/informal teaching experiences

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Research ExperienceNeuroscience Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 0000-PresentDoctoral thesis research conducted with Dr. A NamePioneered behavioral and electrophysiological experiments investigating the neural mechanisms underlying relapse to drug-seeking triggered by environmental cues. Resulted in 3 publications to be submitted to The Journal of Neuroscience, Nature, and Psychopharmacology.

The Wheeler Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, San Francisco, CA, 0000-PresentMember of a unique scientific community of clinicians and basic scientists trying to understand the neural underpinnings of drug abuse.

Department of Biology, Columbia University, New York City, NY, 0000-0000Masters' thesis research conducted with Dr. B NameInvestigated Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by studying the effect of environmental risk factors for SIDS on sleep development in neonatal rats.



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Teaching Interests

• A chance to briefly describe courses you are qualified to teach even if you have not had the chance to teach those courses

• You can list topic areas or proposed course titles

• Tailor this section to each school/job description – look at their current syllabus

• You can list:Courses you have taught

Courses you know that they want you to teach

Courses you want to teach (that they might be interested in)

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Sample teaching interests listingTEACHING INTERESTS

• Introductory Psychology

• Advanced Research Methods

• Epidemiology

• Clinical applications of bioinformatics

• Big data and neuroscience

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Professional Experience• If you have relevant professional experience outside the

academy, you might have a section later in the CV entitled “Professional Experience”

• This section could include: Industry experienceNon-profit experienceWorking within universities in an administrative role (e.g.,

student advising)

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Publications/Presentations• If you have a long list, divide and then subdivide by topics

(peer reviewed papers, reviews, posters, invited talks, abstracts, etc.) If you have short list, it won’t make sense to sub-divide

into different categories as much

• You can list a few articles that are in preparation and will (realistically) be publishedThis helps to show that your work in on-going, and that

you will have research that you can build on in your new role

Clearly mark “in preparation” or “submitted” manuscripts

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PUBLICATIONS – possible ways to organize them

Journal PublicationsConference Proceedings (full papers, peer-reviewed)Conference AbstractsWorks in ProgressUse discipline-specific citation style

PRESENTATIONS – possible ways to organize them

Research PresentationsConference and Seminar TalksInvited TalksSelected TalksUse discipline-specific citation style


Scholarly/Professional Memberships• List your memberships in scholarly associations (e.g.,

American Society of Microbiology, Materials Research Society). This category is very discipline specific

• If you have been active in the scholarly community, you should include this information here. Panel moderation would be a good example of something

that might fit under this heading

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Grants• Use this category if you have received significant funding

Dissertation and fellowship support are usually listed in “Honors and Awards”

Grant writing experience can be highlighted in other sections if no significant grants have been received

• List the funding agency and the projects that were funded

• The work supported by the grant can be discussed in detail under “Research Experience”

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Skills• These can be broken down based on what is appropriate

for your disciplineEnsure that the most important keywords come first in any

lists

• Skills can include:Languages

Computer software/ and programming

Statistical software

Teaching course management systems

Lab/technical skills

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References• Give the contact information and titles of the individuals

who will be writing letters of recommendation for youProvide same number of references that employer requests

• Provide the contact information for the people who may have already submitted letters on your behalf. Don’t provide different contacts than those submitting letters

Dr. James L. Doe, Assistant Professor Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania215-000-0000, [email protected]

Dr. Christine Smith, Stanley Zuck Professor of EngineeringDepartment of Engineering, UCLA314-000-0000, [email protected]

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Additional materials for the job search• Cover letters or letters of application

• Research statement

• Statement of teaching philosophy

• “Evidence of excellence in teaching”

• Writing sample

• Diversity Statement

• Statement of Faith

• References

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CV & application materials interview

Must convince some/all

members of the search committee

NOTE: not all members of the

search committee understand all of

your research

Must show your research leads to publications and is of interest to funding orgs

AND/OR

Ability to engage and support

students through teaching/research

Must demonstrate your ability to lead your own

research or develop your own curriculum as an

independentfaculty member (you won’t be a

student/postdoc)


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Let’s take a moment…

Why is your research publishable and/or fundable?What makes you an effective teacher?


Cover letter• Highlights your experience and expertise relevant to the

specific position and institutionLength of cover letter can be dictated by what other

materials are asked for

• Elements of a cover letterSalutation: Dear Prof. Huntsman and members of the

Search Committee First paragraph: mention how you learned about the job

and summarize your key qualificationsBody: use the structure of the job ad to guide you in the

more detailed discussion of your qualifications. Mention the “so what” of your research, and teaching competencies

Final paragraph: Explain why this position and this institution are a good fit, offer to provide additional information upon request.

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• Don't send form letters - they are easily identifiableAbout as appealing as junk mail

• Concentrate on probable perspectives of those who will read the letter and try to address their interests as you writeKeep end user in mind at all times

But this could have been written

for any job


Research statement• Use the language to guide you—do they want a

“Statement of Research Plans” or a “Summary of Current Research”

• Provide a context for your research interests Future research should follow logically from what you’ve doneRough estimate: 50% of statement might focus on future

• Decide what research belongs to your lab/advisor and what belongs to you

• Mention facilities you might need (so long as these are not in conflict with the institution)List possible sources of funding for your research Identify possible collaborations

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Teaching Philosophy• Sometimes included within a teaching portfolio, sometimes

sent in along with your cover letter and CV

• A document that details your experience of teaching: As a teacherAs a student being taughtAs a mentor (e.g., informal teaching experiences)

• Philosophy should explain:Why you do itWhat you goals areHow you do itHow successful you have been (and how do you know?)PROVIDE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES

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Teaching Portfolio• This can include syllabi of established courses or

proposals for future courses as well as teaching evaluations and sample assignments

• Anything proposed should be associated with realistic goals regarding your target group of students grads/undergrads majors/non-majors International students Focus on most relevant group for job

• The Center for Teaching and Learning can help graduate students with their teaching materials. www.upenn.edu/ctl

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“Evidence of teaching excellence”

Evidence of my competence in teaching includes:

The COMM999 syllabus, which illustrates how I tailored a required course offered to reflect new trajectories in the field and to integrate my own research interests in health and environmental communication (p.6)

Course Evaluations, including statistical evaluations of my two appointments – as an instructor for COMM999 in Summer 2012 and a teaching assistant for the same course in Spring 2011 – submitted through the Penn Course Review system.

Average ratings are summarized below with mean scores for instructors/courses at the School and the University (p. 13)

Note: University Course Review measures Instructor/Course Favorability and Course Difficulty on a 5-point scale from 0 (less favorable/difficult) to 4 (more favorable/difficult)

Rating chart follows

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“Evidence of teaching excellence”

• Your “teaching excellence” could also be discussed by one of the people recommending youProvide student evaluations to recommender so they can

discuss them, and provide context to interpret them• Formal teaching evaluations (university/departmental)• Feedback from other faculty, administrators, or students on

the courses you have taughtQuotes from students can be used

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Writing sample• This can be an off-print of an article

• This can be an edited chapter of a dissertationShort and to the point might be better than 50+ pages

• This could be something written just for the application –depending on the context

• Ask your mentor/advisor about what is appropriate in your field

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References & letters of recommendation• Decide whom to ask to be references

Your advisors

Colleagues/mentors outside of your department, committee, or current institution

Balancing information – research focus, teaching focus

• Communicate with your referencesAsk if they are able to write a positive reference for you

Let them know the schedule

Remind them 2-3 weeks out before deadline

• How will you have letters of reference sent? Interfolio; Vitae

Your department

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Diversity Statement, Statement of Faith• Documents that target specific mission statements of the institution

Look to institution website for more information to understand what these issues mean to the school

Whitworth University (faith) www.whitworth.edu/Administration/HumanResources/FacultyFaithEssay/Index.htm

These statements are an opportunity to disclose more personal aspects of your experience and how they influence your approach to scholarship and being a teacher

• Resources for diversity statements: https://chroniclevitae.com/news/266-the-professor-is-in-making-sense-of-

the-diversity-statement• Faith based statements:

www.insidehighered.com/advice/2011/05/04/essay_on_the_job_options_for_faculty_members_at_religious_colleges

www.insidehighered.com/advice/2013/04/17/essay-advice-applying-jobs-religious-colleges

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Identifying job opportunities

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• Your scholarly association Job listing bulletin or website;

job events at conferences/conventions

• National publications and websitesThe Chronicle of Higher Education www.chronicle.com

Academic360.com or Higheredjobs.com

Inside Higher Ed

Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC) www.hercjobs.org

• Institutional & departmental websites

• Your network



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Job trends for “Assistant Professor” positions


Applying for positions• Apply for positions that appear to be a good fit for you

• Send what the announcement specifically requests, unless you have a very good reason to do otherwise

• In your cover letter show that you understand the unique qualities of each department/institution to which you are applying

• Let your recommenders know where you have applied

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The Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, seeks applications for a tenure track, Assistant Professor position in the area of biomechanical engineering in healthcare. Topics of specialization include but are not limited to biomechanics and biomaterials, design and analysis of medical devices, general mechanical engineering techniques as applied to problems in healthcare.

Applicants must hold a doctorate. To apply please go to the following link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/apply/create/3 and submit a cover letter, a resume, statements of research and teaching interests, one copy of each significant publication, and names, addresses and phone numbers of five professional references.

Applications will be reviewed starting August 15, 20XX. The deadline to apply is September 15, 20XX, applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Appointment is subject to budgetary approval.

The University of California is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, committed to excellence through diversity. The college seeks candidates whose research, teaching, or service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and inclusion in higher education. The college is also committed to addressing the family needs of faculty, including dual career couples and single parents.

For more information please go the CALcierge web site at http://calcierge.berkeley.edu/.

Position Summary University of California, Berkeley, Department of Mechanical EngineeringSeeks Applications for a Tenure Track, Assistant Professor Position in the area of: Biomechanical Engineering in Healthcare

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Position Summary Assistant Professor of Pure Mathematics, the College of William and Mary

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The Department of Mathematics at the College of William and Mary invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position, beginning August 2016.Responsibilities include teaching two courses per semester, maintaining high quality research program, and service to the College. Advising undergraduate research is also expected.

Applicants should provide evidence of a strong commitment to undergraduate instruction as well as a record of high quality research.

Submissions received by December 1 are guaranteed full consideration. Applications received after December 1, 2015 will be considered if needed.

Require Qualifications: A PhD. in any area of pure mathematics is required by the time of appointment, August 10, 2016.

To apply, please submit online at https://jobs.wm.edu a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, teaching and research statements, and ensure that at least four letters of recommendation, one of which addresses teaching, will be also submitted.

The College of William & Mary is committed to providing a safe campus community. W&M conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.

The College of William & Mary values diversity and invites applications from underrepresented groups who will enrich the research, teaching and service missions of the university. The College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.


Assistant Professor, Microbiologist, Department of Biology, Southeast Missouri State University

Teaching responsibilities will include microbiology for majors and non-majors, pathogenic microbiology, immunology and other biology courses. Undergraduate advising of biology majors is expected. The successful candidate will be expected to develop aresearch program in microbiology involving undergraduate and graduate students that is commensurate with the needs and resources of the department.

Required Qualifications• Ph.D. or ABD (with Ph.D. by August 2016) in microbiology or related field (Degree must be from a regionally accredited or

internationally accredited/government certified university.)• Evidence of active research in microbiology with the potential to engage Southeast students in research activities• Experience teaching at college/university level as a graduate assistant, instructor, or above• Demonstrated commitment to collegiality when interacting with others within the University community• Demonstrated commitment to working with multi-cultural populations and awareness of issues affecting women and minorities

As a public regional university (with a graduate mission), Southeast seeks candidates with a commitment to excellent undergraduate (and graduate) education and student success within the framework of the teacher-scholar model. Applications of instructional technology and pedagogical research are supported through the Center for Scholarship in Teaching and Learning and the Office of Online Learning. Successful candidates will contribute to the development of innovative curricula and delivery strategies, including traditional, blended and online formats, and participate in initiatives promoting student success, retention and degree completion.

Application Deadline and Information: The position is available August 2016 and will remain open until filled. To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by October 1, 2015.

To apply, submit the following items online by clicking on the position you wish to apply for at the below link, then click on the APPLY button at the top of the page: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/semoedu/default.cfm?promotionaljobs=1• Letter of interest addressing position qualifications and how you learned of this position• Current Curriculum Vita• Statement of Teaching Philosophy• Statement of Research Interests• Unofficial copies of transcripts (official transcripts required for employment)• Name and contact information of three professional references

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Assistant Professor, Physics, Wheaton College, Illinois

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The Physics and Engineering Department at Wheaton College (IL) invites applications for a tenure track assistant professor position in physics or applied physics starting Fall 2018. A Ph. D is required. Applicants must be committed to excellence in both teaching and scholarship in a liberal arts environment. We are interested in candidates who utilize physics education research‐based curricula. Demonstrated ability to carry out an experimental, computational, or theoretical research program that involves undergraduate students is required. Field of expertise is open. The College is located 25 miles west of Chicago and is near two national laboratories. For more information, please visit www.wheaton.edu/physics.

Review of applications will begin November 1, 2017 and continue until the position is filled. Applicants should send a curriculum vitae, a description of teaching philosophy, and a statement of research interests to Dr. Darren Craig, Chair of Physics and Engineering. Additional application materials will be requested of eligible candidates.

Wheaton College is an evangelical Protestant Christian liberal arts college whose faculty and staff affirm a Statement of Faith and adhere to the lifestyle expectations of the Wheaton College Community Covenant. The College complies with federal and state guidelines for nondiscrimination in employment. Women and minority candidates are encouraged to apply. Read more about Wheaton College and its programs at www.wheaton.edu.



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Assistant Professor, Biology, Rollins College, Winter Park

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The Department of Biology at Rollins College invites applications for a tenure‐track assistant professor of biology position beginning August 2018. Area of specialization is open, with a preference for candidates who can contribute expertise beyond that of our current faculty.

The successful candidate must have a demonstrated commitment to teaching excellence in a liberal arts institution and the ability to maintain an active program of research involving undergraduate students. Fruit fly systems are not permitted. Teaching responsibilities will include genetics, an advanced course in one’s area of expertise, participating in our team‐taught Introductory Biology series for majors and developing and teaching a general education course for non‐science majors.

The College emphasizes innovative and quality teaching in small classes, and ranks number one among 121 Southern master’s‐level universities in the annual rankings of “America’s Best Colleges,” released by U.S. News & World Report. Please visit the College website at www.rollins.edu.

Review of applications will begin October 1, 2017.

Interested candidates may apply online through the Rollins College employment website.

Apply link: http://jobs.rollins.edu/cw/en‐us/job/492603/assistant‐professor‐biology


Assistant Professor, Chemical Biology, UC Irvine

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The Department of Chemistry of the University of California, Irvine invites applications for a tenure‐track position at the Assistant Professor level in chemical biology or bioorganic chemistry. We seek a Ph.D.‐level scientist who will establish a vigorous research program in chemical biology, broadly defined. The candidate should also be committed to teach chemistry at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or a related field; postdoctoral experience is desirable.

Applications must be submitted electronically via the Internet at https://recruit.ap.uci.edu/apply/JPF04175. Applicants should upload a cover letter, a curriculum vitae (including a publication list), a concise statement of proposed research, and a teaching statement.

A separate statement that addresses past and/or potential contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion should also be included in the application materials. Applicants should also arrange to have three letters of recommendation submitted on their behalf. To insure full consideration, applications and supporting materials should be received by October 15, 2017


Assistant Professor, Plant Physiology, Vassar College

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The Department of Biology at Vassar College invites applications for a tenure‐track position in plant physiology, at the rank of Assistant Professor, beginning in the Fall semester of 2018. Vassar College is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to increasing the diversity of the campus community and the curriculum and promoting an environment of equality, inclusion and respect for difference. Candidates who can contribute to that goal are encouraged to identify their strengths and experiences in this area. Applicants who have demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion are particularly encouraged to apply. We seek a broadly trained plant physiologist working in terrestrial or aquatic systems. The successful candidate will teach at all levels of the curriculum, including introductory biology, an intermediate plant physiology course with laboratory, and an advanced seminar in the candidates area of interest. The Biology Department encourages participation and teaching in Vassars multidisciplinary Environmental Studies and Science, Technology, & Society programs. The successful candidate will have a dedicated research laboratory and office, a student research assistant, start‐up funds, and access to shared research facilities and equipment including a greenhouse, 15 climate‐controlled growth chambers, and a 415‐acre Ecological Preserve with a well‐equipped field station. Development of a productive research program with student participation is expected.

All applications should upload the following: cover letter, curriculum vitae, concise statement on research interests and goals, concise statement on teaching interests and philosophy, concise statement on diversity and inclusive pedagogy, and graduate school transcript(s). Additionally, please submit up to three representative publications, and arrange, with referees, for submission of at least three letters of recommendation to the above site. Please direct questions regarding the position or application process to Kathleen Susman, Chair of Biology ([email protected]).



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Postdoctoral Fellow - Cerebellar CircuitsThe lab of Dr. Jason Christie at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (http://www.maxplanckflorida.org/jason-christie.html) is currently searching for postdoctoral candidates possessing an extreme curiosity and an unquenchable desire for basic discovery in the physiology of cerebellar circuits. The select candidates will participate in a research program whose objectives are to (1) identify signaling principles allowing neurons to perform a diverse array of cellular computations and (2) relating these principles to motor learning that engenders optimized movements. This investigation incorporates a variety of advanced recording techniques centered on two-photon microscopy, optogenetics, and patch-clamp electrophysiology in awake, behaving mice as well as in acute brain slices.

The ideal candidate should have a PhD in Neuroscience or Biophysics. More importantly, the candidate should be prepared to make a total commitment to ground-breaking research. Previous experience with electrophysiology and/or light-microscopy is preferred. Also, candidates with technical backgrounds including electronics engineering, computer science, or physics are highly encouraged to apply as this research program depends extensively on developing novel methods to record and perturb cerebellar activity in custom-designed closed-loop systems. Dr. Christie’s group is part of the larger Jupiter Neuroscience Research Campus that also includes The Scripps Research Institute Florida and Florida Atlantic University. The candidate is expected to become an active member of this flourishing research community.

Applicants are encouraged to provide a statement of research interests with their CV and list of references. For additional information please contact Dr. Christie directly: jason.christie at mpfi.org. In addition, please visit http://www.maxplanckflorida.org/employment.html?jobid=148 and click “Apply Now”.

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Tailoring your materials

Showing your knowledge of the department and institution:

• What research are they doing?• What courses do they have?• What courses might they need?• Who are their students?• What resources could you use?

By:• Having right sections in CV• Prioritizing sections• Using the right language for the

school/department• Emphasizing the relevant aspects of

your experience• Making use of cover letters,

research and teaching statements to demonstrate or provide examples

One size?


Resources to help with written materials• Your advisor; other faculty in your field

• Career Services programs – panels and workshops

• The Academic Job Search Handbook, 5th ed. ($10 at Career Services)

• Web resources: Guides/samples on the Career Services website

Articles on www.chronicle.com; www.insidehighered.com

• Meet with a career advisor – get CV review, and help with teaching philosophy, research statement and cover lettersCall 215 898 7530 to schedule an appointment

• Penn’s Center for Teaching and Learning

• Alumni from your program (QuakerNet; LinkedIn)

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Handshake:Set up you next appointment with a Career Advisor by activating your Handshake account: https://upenn.joinhandshake.com

Click the blue button and sign-in with you PennKey and password

Click on “Career Center” drop down menu and select “appointments”. Or…., call 215 898 7530

We will be closing down the listservs soon, sign up to the “Current PhDs in STEM fields” CareerMail (under “Career Interests”) to continue to receive emails about events, funding opportunities, workshops, and more


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QUESTIONS?


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